U.K. Dec. new car registrations up 38.9%: SMMT

WilliamL. Watts

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- A government program that encourages drivers to scrap older vehicles helped boost British new-car registrations by 38.9% in December to 150,936 units, the U.K.'s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported Thursday. For the full year, however, registrations fell 6.4% to 1,994,999 units, the lowest level since 1995. The SMMT said the scrappage program accounted for more than a fifth of all new car registrations this year and is estimated to represent 20.8% of the December market.

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